Tyumen residents reveal private school fees and experiences

Schools in Tyumen are overcrowded — classes with nearly 40 students, a shortage of teachers, and a constant struggle for spots. In such a situation, a private school can be a good alternative. However, there«s a catch — a hefty sum that must be paid out every month.

We asked Tyumen residents how much private school costs, how it works, and what its pros and cons are. Among them were those who are thrilled with this service and those who were left disappointed; we even found a mother who opened a private school herself. We«re sharing their stories with you.

Svetlana, child in fourth grade

My daughter is in the fourth grade at a private school, and it«s our best decision. We didn»t choose the school for long, as we had previously attended developmental classes there — we«ve known the principal for a long time and trust her.

My daughter now loves the school because the atmosphere is very warm and family-like. The children are not overloaded, and at the same time, they manage to complete the entire curriculum and pass certification exams well. They constantly go to camps, on excursions, and there are many extracurricular activities.

This academic year, the cost of a month of study is 20,000 rubles (about $222 at current rates). This includes educational materials, excursions once a month, and developmental extracurricular classes.

Anastasia, child in second grade

I decided to choose a private school because it«s important to me that my child gets attention in class. This is difficult in a municipal school due to the large number of students and bureaucratic aspects.

I«m a working mother with a busy schedule, so I initially chose a school where the child would also be occupied from morning until evening. I studied the school»s curriculum and the reviews of those who studied and study there. I finally chose the school after meeting with the teachers.

Everything is arranged as follows. In the first half of the day, there are lessons: classes are often held in an interactive format, the children do a lot of hands-on work to better absorb the material. Then lunch, a walk, and in the second half of the day there are extracurricular activities — chess, art, a lot of activities in English, and additional Chinese language study. Every week, various interesting lecturers come to the school, for example, from the «Poteryashki» (Lost and Found) assistance fund, from the Red Cross.

My child really likes it; if I pick her up from school a bit earlier, she doesn«t want to leave. There are several pluses: few students in the class, an individual approach, no need to hire tutors, and during »aktirovki« (official school closures due to weather), the children continue to study.

There is one minus — the cost. At the school where my daughter studies, tuition starts from 30,000 rubles (about $333 at current rates).

Elena, withdrew child from private school

My son studied at a private school for almost a year. It was convenient: 12 people in the class, no homework at home, excursions, various trips. What was alarming was that there were no questions about lessons and assignments. They taught something, then examined it themselves.

This year we moved, and the child went to a very average municipal school, with 38 people in the class. Now we«re dealing with the gaps in knowledge from last year. In the notebooks, there are only A»s, and the feedback from teachers is also excellent. But in the end, there are gaps. What they taught for almost 50,000 rubles (about $556 at current rates) a month is a big question.

By the way, now my son is ranked third out of 38 students. We«ve caught up on everything.

Yevgenia, opened a school herself

A friend and I opened our own private school to educate our children well. Because I had questions about both the gymnasium where my son studied and the private school where my daughter and son studied. I remembered: if you want something done right, do it yourself.

We have a motivated teaching staff and a strong program. Children win places in olympiads. The school is still small. And mainly our acquaintances and their acquaintances study with us. The monthly fee is 39,000 rubles (about $433 at current rates) including after-school care.

Previously, we shared the stories of Tyumen women who opted for IVF. This usually requires several attempts, and it«s not a given that the procedure will ultimately be successful. Nevertheless, many succeed.